The power of perseverance

Step by step, with a steady ascent in the global rankings, Maria Sakkari has managed to consolidate her position at the pinnacle of the sport, without the guidance, expertise, or financial backing of a national federation. Her serve has undoubtedly been one of the most distinctive weapons in her game, while "never, ever give up" seems to be the mantra that fuels her every time she steps onto the court.

"Tennis shaped me; it made me who I am today. I was born a fighter. It is natural for me to fight with all my strength, and I believe this fighting spirit is what gives me an edge every time I play."

Resilient and consistent, smiling and approachable, it is perhaps no coincidence that she shares a similar code of values with her favorite athlete of all time - the MVP who led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both were born in Athens, just six months apart.

She doesn't remember exactly when she first started dreaming of becoming a world-class athlete. She knows very well, however, who her primary source of inspiration was: her mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, who in 1987 reached No. 43 in the world rankings. "She has been the biggest influence in my life."

The bravery of transformation

Maria Sakkari eventually reached No. 3 in the WTA global rankings, a position she claimed for the first time on March 21, 2022, marking the highest achievement ever by a Greek female tennis player. A difficult period followed, during which she dropped out of the top ten due to a right shoulder injury and inconsistencies in her performance. Instead of settling for minor tweaks, however, she undertook a complete technical overhaul, fully reconstructing both her service motion and her forehand technique. It was a decision requiring the kind of courage that doesn't necessarily show up on the scoreboard, yet often dictates the entire next phase of a career.

Her favorite color is grey, and her favorite material is carbon. A choice that seems anything but random when one considers that carbon atoms can bond in different ways to create either graphite - a word derived from the Greek verb graphein (to write) - or diamonds. After all, she is writing her own chapter in tennis history, shedding layers with every winning point and revealing her true strength.

"When you love what you do, you love all its aspects, even the exhausting training sessions and the long travels. It is this feeling that pushes you daily toward achieving your goals."

Stress, fatigue, and adrenaline are part of her daily life. At this level, any deviation from the schedule is essentially out of the question. Discipline is not an occasional choice, but the steady axis around which every day is organized. "What relaxes me is a long drive along the Athenian coastline, early in the morning or at sunset, listening to music in my car. And, of course, the precious free time with the person I love and have chosen to be beside," she says.

The wisdom in defeat 

Does she remember the match that perhaps changed her forever? "It wasn't a specific match, but a tournament—the 2016 Australian Open. I didn't have much self-confidence and didn't believe I was good enough to compete against the world's best. Then I won three matches in the qualifiers and made it to the main draw. After advancing another round, I lost in three sets to Carla Suárez Navarro, who was highly ranked. It was a good match and a turning point. At that exact moment, I felt for the first time that I truly belonged among the great players."

Fear and pain are two of life's greatest teachers. Everyone wants to win. But the way an athlete overcomes defeat is often what reveals their true greatness.

"It's never easy, and you can never get used to losing. If you get used to it, then you have a serious problem. So, you try to maintain your composure when you lose a match and stay grounded when you win. This balance is incredibly important."

According to Oscar Wilde, one of life's great secrets is that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes. "It might sound like a cliché or even an impossibility, but I genuinely have not a single regret. I don't approach life that way. Throughout my journey, I have tried to do what I believed was best at any given moment. Have I made mistakes? Many. And I will certainly make more in the future. But I learn quickly, and every day I become a better version of myself, not just on the court. How could I have regrets when everything I've done has led me to this exact point, right here and now?"

Yes, Greece has yet to produce a world No. 1. But the iron will and unbending spirit of this young woman remain focused on writing a new chapter in both Greek and global tennis. And history is always written by those who stubbornly insist on taking the difficult path.